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March 24, 2026
椟(櫝)dú(du2)
The character 椟 (dú) refers to a cabinet or a case used for storing items, often implying a sense of sturdiness and protection. It is commonly used in contexts involving furniture or containers, particularly for valuable or delicate objects. In literary contexts, it can also evoke feelings of nostalgia or preservation.
Strokes12Radical木Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, cabinets and storage cases often symbolize the preservation of family heritage and wealth. Many families would have intricately designed cabinets that not only served functional purposes but also reflected their status.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sturdy wooden cabinet (the shape of 椟) where you keep your most treasured items safe. The radical 木 (wood) at the bottom represents that it's made of wood, while the top part resembles a roof, indicating that it's a closed structure. Think of 'dú' as 'do' when you 'do' something to keep your valuables safe.
Meanings of 椟
dú(du2)
1cabinet, closet, wardrobe
2case
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 椟
椟Simplified
櫝Traditional
12Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 椟
Podcast: 椟
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AI Study Notes for 椟
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a sturdy wooden cabinet (the shape of 椟) where you keep your most treasured items safe. The radical 木 (wood) at the bottom represents that it's made of wood, while the top part resembles a roof, indicating that it's a closed structure. Think of 'dú' as 'do' when you 'do' something to keep your valuables safe.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 椟 with similar characters like 椅 (yǐ, chair). It is more formal than casual terms for storage like 箱 (xiāng, box). It may also appear in compound words, so pay attention to context when encountering it.
HSK Study Tips
While 椟 is not included in the HSK, it shares the 木 radical with many other HSK characters, such as 树 (shù, tree) and 林 (lín, forest). Focus on recognizing the wood radical to make connections to other related vocabulary at your level.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, cabinets and storage cases often symbolize the preservation of family heritage and wealth. Many families would have intricately designed cabinets that not only served functional purposes but also reflected their status.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 椟 with simpler terms like 箱 (xiāng, box) or 屏 (píng, screen). For example, saying '我把书放在椟里' (wǒ bǎ shū fàng zài dú lǐ) might be incorrect if you meant a simple box; using '箱' would be more appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 椟
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Cultural Notes for 椟
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, cabinets and storage cases often symbolize the preservation of family heritage and wealth. Many families would have intricately designed cabinets that not only served functional purposes but also reflected their status.
Word Family of 椟
Words Containing This Character2
买椟还珠to show poor judgment (idiom)買櫝還珠
椟dúcase櫝
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 买椟还珠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 椟
It is pronounced 'dú' with a rising tone.
Yes, it can refer to any storage case, including those for valuables or documents.
Not frequently; it is more often seen in written contexts or literature.
